Research Associate in Alcohol and Public Health

Job Description

The Division of Population Health in the School of Medicine and Population Health is looking to appoint a part-time post-doctoral researcher to undertake public health research in a new Policy Research Unit (PRU) in Addictions. The PRU in Addictions has recently been commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care for England, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, and starts in January 2024 for an initial five-year period.

The PRU is a collaboration involving 10 UK universities led from the Addictions Department at King’s College London (KCL), [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]’s Addictions Research Group and the University of Glasgow’s Gambling Glasgow Research Centre. Its aim is to inform policymaking relating to alcohol, tobacco and nicotine, other drugs, and gambling. Research conducted within the PRU will draw on a range of quantitative and qualitative research methods, and will incorporate different disciplinary perspectives including public health, epidemiology, psychology, health economics, operational research and psychiatry. The PRU will particularly focus on research that relates to public policy and practice, which can play an important role in guiding future policymaking.

Responsibilities

You will work initially on two projects. The first involves developing a plan for extending an existing alcohol policy modelling tool to ensure it takes better account of issues related to alcohol dependence. The second involves carrying out a cost-effectiveness analysis of smoking cessation interventions, including the UK Government's 'swap-to-stop' scheme, which involves providing e-cigarette starter kits to pregnant women who smoke. Depending on your skills and the needs of the PRU, you may also carry out qualitative analyses, systematic reviews, and research on other addictive products or behaviours.

Requirements

• PhD (or equivalent experience) in a relevant subject
• Experience of carrying out quantitative research relevant to public health
• Some experience of health economic or decision modelling
• Strong interest in research related to at least one addictive substance or behaviour
• Track record of academic publication appropriate to career stage

Additional Information

We are committed to exploring flexible working opportunities which benefit the individual and University.

We build teams of people from different heritages and lifestyles from across the world, whose talent and contributions complement each other to greatest effect. We believe diversity in all its forms delivers greater impact through research, teaching and student experience.

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